Steering mechanism for traction-machines.



W. STRAIT.

STEERING MECHANISM FOR TRACTION MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV,EJ,1912. 1 313% Patented Mar. 9 1915.

2 SHEEN-$112121: 1.

WITNESSES INVENTOI? Gill A 8W 7% 472? 9 gmfwmfm Atmmw ue W; STRAIT. STEERING MECHANISM FOR TRACTION MACHINES. APPLIOATION.FILED NOV 9. 1912.

1 1 gggj gggggg Patsnted M21119, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INI "ENTOR Suawg NMJJZM Attorwey 'WILTLHLIK STEAM}, OF APPLETON, WISCONSIN.

MECHIQTISM FOB. TMCTION-MACHINES specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 91, 1915.

application filed November 9, 1912. Serial No. 730,473.

LIAM S'rnnrr, a floaters, residing at e invented a new mechanism for .vhich the following l es to afront carrying act]! 1 tactor so FD y at a right nine asniay be desired for icicntly pointed out ectionnith a detailed deaccon enipli structure emion.

plan view; Fl 9 a section V T g. 3 is a secfl, and Fig. 4

invention vherea tef:

V (Ell. rm

toe machine is only vs the proper loca .ctor in a complete l it frame members 5 are transverse, upwardly arched is reinforced by a cross l above the side frame fork 8 has a stem?) 1G, 11, carried, nibers '7 and 6. s' l forward. from the frame 5d the stx-aering fork Well end of the frame. The "rains members 6 and 7,

ring" stem 9 and fork .3 to slipport the as will appear. wait on which i tractor sprocket 16. also supported by 1e radios members by 1 and screws The radius r, each side of the sprockto y roller hearings to but firmly in engagement 1. Y between sprockets.

praotor chain or bolt passing around sprockets 16 and 19 is indicated by character 25.

To the front ends of the radius members 17 is pivoted a lifting fork 26, and the upper end of this is connected by a screw 27 and nut 28 With the front end of strut 13. On the upper end of the screw is a hand wheel 29. Steering stem 9 carries at its upper end a gear sector 30 and this is engagedb'y a Worm 31 carried in suitable bearings in bracket 11. The Worm is turned by a universally jointed shaft 32 leading back to steering wheel The direction. of the machine is controlled in an obvious Way, by rotating the hand Wheel and changing the direction of the tractor belt. Owing to the arched construction of the front end of the frame and the outward hanging of the main fork 8, the tractor may be turned, if necessary, to a complete right-angle Without interference by the frame. In some cases the tractor may be left flat on the. ground, as shown in Fig. l, but in other cases to facilitate turning or traveling over soft or uneven ground the front end of the tractor is more or less elevated. This is easily accomplished by r0- tating screw 27. When the front end is elevated even slightly, the Whole tractor pivots around to a point directly under the rear axle 15. On smooth ground steeringcan be easily effected even when the tractor is flat on the ground by means of the powerful steering Worm and large hand-Wheel.

The steering tractor is preferably mounted in the longitudinal center line of the machine; Vl hen the front end of the tractor is raised for turning, in the turning action the tractor belt pivots upon its center and this center is, of course, in the same longitudinal center line of the machine. Steering is by this arrangement very much facilitated and can be accomplished much easier than, for instance, in machines which have a plurality of steering tractors.

Evidently, the invention is capable of embodiment in various forms and I have shown only the best construction designed by me up to the present time.

I claim: I

1. In a traction machine, the combination of a frame having an upwardly arched front end, bearings carried by said front end, a main fork rcv'olubly mounted in the bearings, an axle carried by the fork, a for ward strut carried by the fork, a front axle depending from the strut, a belt wheel on each of the axles, and a tractor beltpassing around the wheels.

2. In a tractionimachine, the combination of a frame, upwardly arched front members thereon, bearings extended forward from said arched members, a main fork pivoted in the bearings, an axle and sprocket carried by said fork, radius members extendi forward from theaxle, a front axle carrie fork connected to said radius members, a strut extending forward from the main fork, a screw connected with the lifting fork and engaging a nut carried by the strut for lifting the front end of the radius members, a sprocket carried .by the front axle, and a .tractor belt passing around the sprockets. 1

3. In a tractionmachiiie, .the combination of side frame members, upwardly arched front members connected to said side members, bearings extended forward from said front members and a steering tractor pivotally carried in said bearings.

4. In a traction machine, the combination I of side frame members, upwardly arched front members connected to the side members,.- a main fork pivoted to said front members, a sprocket carried by said fork, another sprocket forward of the one first mentioned, a forward strut carried by said fork and aflifting fork connected to said strut.

5. In a traction machine, the combination of side frame members, upwardly arched front members connected to the side mem-:

bers, a main fork pivoted to said front members,a sprocket carried by said fork, another sprocket forwardeof the one first mentioned, a'forwa rd strutcarr-ied by said fork, a'lifting' forkconnect'ed to said strut, and radius members connecting the axes of the two sprockets.- r

6., In a tractionmachine, the combination of a frame, asteerin'g tractor inthe center l ne of the machine, a pivotal connection betweenthe tractor and frame to permit steering. movement of the tractor,and means for elevating'the front end of the tractor to reduce the ground contact area and cause the by said radius members, a lifting tractor to pivot near one end and substantially under said pivotal connection in turn- I v 7. In a traction machine, the combination of side frame members, a cross frame member, a steering .fork revolubly mounted therein, a shaft carried by the fork, a pulley thereon, tractor-frame members extending from the fork, a shaft carried by said tractor-frame members, a pulley on said shaft, 1and. a tractor belt passing about said puleys. I I

8. In a traction machine, the combination of side frame members, a cross frame member,a steering fork pivoted therein, ashaft carried by the fork, a. pulley thereon tractor-frame members extending forward from the fork, a shaft carried by said tractorframe members, a pulley on said shaft, a tractor belt assing about said pulleys, means for ralsing the front end of the tractor belt, said parts being constructed and arranged so that in steering the tractor belt pivots upon the center in the longitudi- ,nal center line of the machine.

- 9., In a traction machine, the combination of side frame members, a cross frame member, a steering fork pivotally connected thereto, a shaft carried by the fork, a .pulley thereon, tractor-frame members extending from the fork, a shaft carried by said tractor-frame members, a pulley on said shaft, a tractor belt passing about said pul-' leys, rollers carried by the tractor-frame members and engaging the lower stretch of the belt to insure proper ground contact.

WILLIAM STRAIT. Witnesses:

GEORGE T. RICHARD, P. A. Koannmr. 

